Dogara: Northern Political Leaders Impoverished Region for Over 40 Years

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon.Yakubu Dogara, has blamed northern leaders for the level of under-development of the region.

Dogara, also called on Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills currently awaiting National Assembly’s passage.

The former Speaker spoke as a guest speaker at a town hall meeting for Christian leaders in northern Nigeria.

He spoke at an event, themed “Church and Society: Tax Reforms and Matters Arising.”

Dogara said northerners should not blame Tinubu for the region’s current plight, stressing the need to support the tax reform bills, which he said were aimed at transforming the region.

He explained: “We are all northerners, and it should be made clear that President Tinubu or the South is not our problem. They have not come to cheat the North. That is out of the question. Some are claiming that Yoruba people are getting appointments, but let’s reflect. We ruled this country for over 40 years when northerners were in power. What did we achieve? The North remains the same, impoverished by our own leaders.

“We have had so much, but what did our governors do with the resources? They squandered them instead of investing in meaningful development.”

He also cited the Ajaokuta Steel Industry, initiated by the Shagari administration, which was 98 per cent completed but was later allowed to deteriorate.

“The project was almost finished, yet it was left to rot,” he said.